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8 n e w h a v e n B I Z | S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m O n T h e R e c o r d | Q & A J ason Few, CEO of Danbury-based FuelCell Energy, has big plans for the future of fuel cell energy — including widespread use of the technology and a positive impact on the environment worldwide. e company designs, manufactures, in- stalls, operates and maintains fuel cell power plants, and it currently employs some 400 workers, with about 325 in Connecticut. FuelCell also has a factory in Torrington. Its clients range from utilities to universities, hospitals, manufacturers and municipalities. It has several projects happening in the state, including at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, and currently has installations on three continents. Over a career that spans more than three decades, Few has had leadership roles with companies such as Sustayn Analytics LLC, Continuum Energy, NRG Energy and Reli- ant Energy. Few took over as president and CEO of FuelCell Energy in Aug. 2019. At the time, the company indicated Few would be responsible for enhancing its commercial activity, growing revenue and boosting profitability. He has challenges to overcome — Fu- elCell, for example, has never turned a profit. For the fiscal year 2020, the company reported revenues of $70.9 million, a 17% increase over the prior year. It reported a 2020 loss from operations of $39.2 million, an improvement over the prior year's $66.9 million loss. Fuel cells remain somewhat constrained by cost, and the fact that hydrogen itself is oen produced using fossil fuels, which weighs against its green credentials. Con- necticut and other states have also set far more ambitious goals for other kinds of clean energy technology, including solar and wind. Still, Few said he's optimistic about the company's growth trajectory and opportuni- ties for new business. Recent legislation is expected to boost the hydrogen power industry. Gov. Ned Lamont recently signed into law a bill requiring electric distribution companies, such as Eversource and Avangrid, to buy up to 30 megawatts of fuel cell generation projects by Jan. 1, 2022. Few is passionate about the "energy tran- sition," the transformation of the global en- ergy sector from fossil-based to zero-carbon by the second half of this century. e goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to energy, and therefore, reduce negative impacts on the environment and climate. New Haven BIZ recently spoke to Few about his plans for the company. Tell us about FuelCell's technology. FuelCell Energy's platforms are based on a particular type of fuel cell and we have two types of fuel cells. Our core technology is based on a molten carbonate fuel cell. We have over 250-plus megawatts of this platform operating today across three continents between the U.S., Europe and South Korea. at molten carbonate fuel cell technology is one in which we use fuel (such as natural gas or renewable biogas), without combusting the fuel, to effectively make hydrogen. at hydrogen is then used to make power. e second technology we have is solid oxide, which we are working to commercialize. It effectively works the same way in terms of using fuel. It can use hydrogen to produce power. How is it different? Unlike traditional power generation platforms, we don't combust the fuel. We have a much lower environmental footprint. We operate at a very low decibel level. Our platform can be placed right next to buildings, offices and universities, and even next to where people live. In addition to that, our platforms are a small footprint. So unlike other technologies, like wind and solar, which require massive land use, we can deploy our technology in very small footprints. For example, we have a 2.8 megawatt platform in Connecticut and it's on less than a quarter-acre of land. But we are co-located with a 2.3 megawatt solar field, and it takes nine acres. How can your technology support other clean energy? It is important to have a way to really support intermittent technologies, like wind and solar. Because they are intermittent (depending on the weather), you can't rely on them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Long duration energy storage is really important. We think the answer to that is hydrogen. Our plat- forms have the ability to generate hydrogen, store that hydrogen, and then use that hydrogen for power production. What are your current biggest projects? We have a project right now in Con- necticut at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton. at project is 7.4 megawatts. We are delivering a platform that is go- ing to operate in microgrid mode, so when there are grid disturbances, our platform will deliver power just to the Navy, so the submarine base can continue its opera- tions. We have another project in the state that we will start soon, and that is a 14.8 mega- watt project in Derby. We also have one in Hartford that is 7.4 megawatts. ere is one in Long Island that is in construction right now for 7.4 megawatts. How is the company working toward the clean energy transition? We believe that distributed energy is go- ing to continue to become more and more important. (Distributed energy refers to technology that generates power at or near where it will be used.) One of the things that makes Connecticut pretty special is the beauty of the state, but those trees that make the state so pretty also create havoc on an energy grid when one of those trees falls on a transmission line. By using distributed energy, you can eliminate some of those above-ground risk issues and still deliver reliable power. Hydrogen is going to continue to become an important part of the energy transition. We can deliver hydrogen exactly where it is needed. Generally, hydrogen is produced central- ly and then trucked to where it is needed. We can put the hydrogen platform exactly where the use of the hydrogen is going to occur. is eliminates the need for trans- portation and trucks on highways. We are producing hydrogen in a very clean way. You can produce hydrogen and you can store it — in salt caverns, pipelines or pressurized tanks. We think we have an opportunity to play a major role in achieving the climate goals of not only the U.S., but more broadly, the world. Several storms in recent years have caused long-term power outages — can this technology help avoid this problem? It can. Most power generation resourc- es, because of the space they require, are not located where the power is actually consumed. You have to transport that power from long distances on high voltage transmis- sion lines. If you have a severe storm or other natural disaster and those high volt- age transmission lines are cut or impacted, Going Green: FuelCell CEO Jason Few aims to transform global energy landscape By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo Jason Few President & CEO FuelCell Energy Education: BA, Ohio University MBA, Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management Age: 55 FuelCell Energy CEO Jason Few. FuelCell Energy installed a cogeneration facility at Hartford Hospital.

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